Situational awareness only. Follow DHM, NDRRMA and local authorities for official warnings and public-safety instructions.

Active Response

Rasuwa / Bhotekoshi–Trishuli Flood

Rapid Satellite & Geospatial Situation Intelligence · 26 August 2026

A NESRA FloodWatch product · Programme Lead: Anamol Mittal (Founder & President, NESRA) · Earth Observation Lead: Michael Hylind

Situation data cutoff2026-08-31 12:00 NPTPage updated2026-08-31 13:30 NPTEO assessmentv1 · imagery 27 Aug · unchangedStatusActive Response / Monitoring

For situational awareness. Follow DHM, NDRRMA and local authorities for official warnings and public-safety instructions.

Read Situation Brief #07 English PDF नेपाली संक्षेप #07

Live FloodWatch contains updates from and after the Situation Brief #07 data cutoff. Situation Briefs #01–#07 remain immutable archived snapshots.

Operational Snapshot

Rasuwa FloodWatch — current operational picture

Last updated: 2026-08-31 13:30 NPTSituation data cutoff: 2026-08-31 12:00 NPTStatus: Active Response / Monitoring

Current situation

Current risk

One barrier lake near the border was reported fully drained (Chinese technical statement, 30 Aug). Glaciers and landslide deposits around the source zone are reported unstable (technical assessment). DHM has active flood/rainfall warnings for Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun, Nawalparasi and Chitwan. The hazard is not over.

DHM warning / technical assessment · 31 Aug; follow DHM live guidance

Official impact

903 bodies and human remains recovered (NDRRMA). Reported as a recovered-remains metric — not a final confirmed death toll.

NDRRMA · 31 Aug 09:00 NPT · provisional

Missing / unaccounted

~4,247 unaccounted for (incl. 592 foreign nationals as a subset). NDRRMA acknowledges reconciliation remains ongoing.

NDRRMA · 31 Aug 09:00 NPT · provisional

Access

Prithvi Highway (Muglin–Kathmandu) remains completely blocked at Krishnabhir (Dhading); under technical assessment, reopening not immediate. Diverted traffic uses alternative routes. The primary Rasuwagadhi corridor remains severely disrupted.

Diversions do not equal primary-corridor reopening

Response

10,451 rescued; 20,819 security personnel deployed; 411 helicopter flights (3,344 Nepalis + 252 foreign airlifted). Army-led tunnel search with Indian & Chinese specialists across 11 hydropower projects.

NDRRMA · 31 Aug 09:00 NPT

Essential services

Power: NEA reports electricity restored across most of Kalika, Naukunda, Dhunche, Bharkhu and Gosainkunda; repairs continue. Telecom: 145 of 198 towers restored (29 Aug) and seven key BTS sites (30 Aug) — tower restoration is not full coverage.

NEA / NTC · partial restoration

Earth Observation

NESRA Rapid EO Assessment v1 is unchanged. International Charter lists 8 products; Copernicus EMSR927 is ongoing with 4 AOIs and 3 products; Sentinel Asia lists additional Planet- and Sentinel-1-based products.

External products are not NESRA findings; exposure ≠ damage

Changes since previous update

Six material changes reviewed through 2026-08-31 12:00 NPT

Impact revised (NDRRMA, 31 Aug 09:00 NPT): 903 bodies and human remains recovered, ~4,247 unaccounted for (incl. 592 foreign nationals) and 10,451 rescued; 267 injured (156 discharged), 20,819 security personnel and 411 helicopter flights (3,344 Nepalis + 252 foreign airlifted). Recovered remains are not a final confirmed death toll.
Hydropower tunnel focus: ~933 workers unaccounted for at 11 flood-affected hydropower projects in Rasuwa and Nuwakot; the Nepal Army with Indian and Chinese specialists searched the Rasuwagadhi (111 MW) tunnel and found no people inside (~93 of its workers still missing). Three bodies were recovered from two tunnels.
Secondary hazard shift: one barrier lake near the border was reported fully drained (Chinese technical statement); glaciers and landslide deposits remain unstable (technical assessment). DHM has active flood/rainfall warnings for Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun, Nawalparasi and Chitwan.
Power restoration: the NEA reports electricity restored across most of Kalika, Naukunda, Dhunche, Bharkhu and Gosainkunda; repairs continue. Roughly 10% of national generation capacity was affected.
Access: the Prithvi Highway remains completely blocked at Krishnabhir under technical assessment; the government has sought ~42 Bailey bridges from India and China (requests, not installed).
EO unchanged: NESRA Rapid EO Assessment v1 remains the latest NESRA EO product; external products (International Charter 8, Copernicus EMSR927, Sentinel Asia) are unchanged.
New brief: Situation Brief #07 published (data cutoff 31 Aug 12:00 NPT).

Current official risk status

Barrier lake reported drained; glacier & landslide instability under assessment

One barrier lake near the Nepal–China border was reported fully drained (Chinese technical statement via media, 30 August). Glaciers and multiple landslide deposits around the source and impact zone are reported to remain unstable, with a possibility that further collapse could create new impoundments — a technical / remote-sensing assessment, not an official warning. DHM has issued flood/rainfall warnings for communities along rivers in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun, Nawalparasi and Chitwan. The hazard is not over. FloodWatch does not reproduce live gauge values: follow DHM River Watch and official warnings for current decisions.

Classification: OFFICIAL / AUTHORITY-ATTRIBUTED REPORTING. NDRRMA warning via AP, reviewed 30 Aug 2026; barrier-lake technical context via Reuters. The warning does not establish a quantified flood crest, and satellite interpretation does not substitute for DHM guidance.

Read NDRRMA-attributed warning ↗Read lake assessment ↗Open official DHM River Watch ↗

Situation reviewed 31 Aug, 12:00 NPT

नेपाली सारांश — मुख्य जानकारी

यो उच्च–प्राथमिकता जानकारीको नेपाली सारांश हो। सङ्ख्या, स्रोत, समय र अवस्था अंग्रेजी संस्करणसँग मिल्दो छ।

हालको आधिकारिक जोखिम अवस्था

सीमानजिकको एउटा अवरोधित ताल पूर्ण निकास भएको रिपोर्ट (चिनियाँ प्राविधिक भनाइ, 30 Aug)। उद्गम क्षेत्रका हिमनदी र पहिरो सामग्री अस्थिर रहेको प्राविधिक मूल्याङ्कन छ (आधिकारिक चेतावनी होइन)। DHM ले रसुवा, नुवाकोट, धादिङ, गोरखा, तनहुँ, नवलपरासी र चितवनका नदीछेउ समुदायलाई बाढी/वर्षा चेतावनी जारी गरेको छ। जोखिम समाप्त भएको छैन। हालको निर्णयका लागि DHM र आधिकारिक चेतावनी पालना गर्नुहोस्।

आधिकारिक प्रभाव

903 शव तथा मानव अवशेष फेला — NDRRMA, 31 Aug 09:00 NPT; प्रारम्भिक। फेला परेका अवशेषको सूचक हो, अन्तिम प्रमाणित मृत्यु संख्या होइन।

सम्पर्कविहीन व्यक्ति

~4,247 — NDRRMA, 31 Aug 09:00 NPT; प्रारम्भिक (592 विदेशी नागरिक उपसमूहसहित)। NDRRMA ले सही संख्या यकिन गर्न कठिनाइ स्वीकारेको, मिलान जारी।

खोज तथा उद्धार

10,451 उद्धार — NDRRMA, 31 Aug 09:00 NPT। 20,819 सुरक्षाकर्मी र 411 हेली उडान (3,344 नेपाली + 252 विदेशी हवाई उद्धार)। रसुवा र नुवाकोटका 11 जलविद्युत् आयोजनामा करिब 933 कामदार सम्पर्कविहीन; नेपाली सेनाले भारतीय/चिनियाँ विज्ञसहित सुरुङ खोजी गर्दैछ। रसुवागढी (111 MW) सुरुङमा कोही फेला परेनन्; ~93 कामदार सम्पर्कविहीन। NESRA जीवितको अनुमान प्रकाशित गर्दैन।

आवागमन

पृथ्वी राजमार्ग (मुग्लिङ–काठमाडौं) कृष्णभीर (धादिङ) मा पूर्ण अवरुद्ध; प्राविधिक मूल्याङ्कनमा, तत्काल खुल्ने अपेक्षा छैन। वैकल्पिक मार्गमा यातायात मोडिएको। सरकारले भारत/चीनसँग करिब 42 Bailey पुल माग गरेको (जडान भइसकेको होइन)। मुख्य बेत्रावती–रसुवागढी मार्ग गम्भीर अवरुद्ध।

अत्यावश्यक सेवा (विद्युत्/दूरसञ्चार)

NEA ले कालिका, नौकुण्ड, धुन्चे, भर्खु र गोसाइँकुण्डका धेरै क्षेत्रमा विद्युत् पुनर्स्थापना गरेको; बाँकीमा मर्मत जारी। दूरसञ्चार: 198 मध्ये 145 tower (29 Aug) र सात प्रमुख BTS site (30 Aug) — पूर्ण coverage होइन।

पृथ्वी अवलोकन

NESRA Rapid EO Assessment v1 अपरिवर्तित छ। Exposure प्रमाणित क्षति होइन। Charter मा 8 उत्पादन, Copernicus EMSR927 मा 4 AOI / 3 उत्पादन, र Sentinel Asia मा थप Planet- तथा Sentinel-1-आधारित उत्पादन सूचीबद्ध छन्। बाह्य उत्पादन NESRA निष्कर्ष होइनन्।

EO ड्यासबोर्ड ↗

स्थिति संक्षेप र अभिलेख

पछिल्लो: Situation Brief #07। English PDF · नेपाली संक्षेप #07। Briefs #01–#07 अपरिवर्तनीय अभिलेखमा सुरक्षित छन्।

साझेदारी

NESRA — स्वामी/सञ्चालक/प्रकाशक। Anamol Mittal — FloodWatch Programme Lead। Michael Hylind — NESRA Earth Observation Lead। IIC — प्रविधि साझेदार। YIL — रसुवा 2026 ड्रोन योगदानकर्ता।

आधिकारिक चेतावनीका लागि DHM, NDRRMA तथा सम्बन्धित सरकारी निकायका सूचना पालना गर्नुहोस्।

Latest official impact — Nepal scope. NDRRMA (31 Aug 09:00 NPT) reports 903 bodies and human remains recovered, approximately 4,247 people unaccounted for (including 592 foreign nationals) and 10,451 rescued; 267 injured (156 discharged), 20,819 security personnel and 411 helicopter flights (3,344 Nepalis + 252 foreign airlifted). Recovered bodies/human remains are provisional and are not equated with a final confirmed death toll.

Current response and recovery context

Hydropower tunnel operations: Nepali authorities report approximately 933 workers unaccounted for at 11 flood-affected hydropower projects in Rasuwa and Nuwakot, many believed to be inside blocked tunnels (Trishuli 3A/3B among key sites). The Nepal Army, with Indian and Chinese tunnel specialists, is using controlled blasts, excavators and search lights. The Rasuwagadhi (111 MW) tunnel was searched to about 225 m with no people found inside; approximately 93 of its workers remain missing. Three bodies were recovered from two tunnels. NESRA reports these workers as unaccounted for / believed trapped and does not publish survivor estimates.

National response: 20,819 security personnel and 411 helicopter flights are reported (NDRRMA, 31 Aug 09:00 NPT).

Preliminary reconstruction context: the initial USD 4–5 billion rebuilding estimate remains preliminary while detailed loss-and-damage assessment continues.

Broader humanitarian context

More than 90,000 people are estimated to be affected across the wider Nepal–Tibet disaster region, according to the IFRC via Reuters. This is broader context and is not a Rasuwa-only figure.

Cause assessment — evolving. USGS analysis determined that the seismic signal initially interpreted as an earthquake was generated by a glacial collapse and debris flow. ICIMOD and Nepal disaster-management reporting also point to an ice–rock avalanche in the upper Lhende Khola catchment. Whether temporary damming amplified the flood, and the condition of remaining upstream impoundments, continue to be assessed.

Official river monitoring

Official warnings and public-safety instructions are issued by DHM, NDRRMA and relevant authorities. NESRA links to authoritative monitoring and does not rebroadcast live water levels.

DHM Real-Time River Watch DHM Current Flood Forecast NDRRMA BIPAD Portal

Emergency contacts

Use official hotlines for urgent assistance. Availability may be affected by damaged telecommunications infrastructure.

Police

100

Traffic Police

103

Tourist Police

1144

DHM flood information

1155 · press 2

Health helpline

1115

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Foreign Nationals ECR

+977-9744441227
+977-9744441228

Hotline / WhatsApp · 07:00–22:00
emergency@mofa.gov.np · official notice ↗

Hydrology and flood-wave findings

Warning dissemination

DHM reports 679,295 warning SMS messages sent through Nepal Telecom and Ncell.

Monitoring disruption

Syabrubesi and Betrawati gauges stopped transmitting; the Furke/Malekhu station and bridge were later washed away.

Devghat observation

Peak 6.57 m at 16:00 NPT, estimated flow near 5,850 m³/s.

Flood-wave travel

Approximately 168 km to Devghat; additional flood volume estimated near 19.96 million m³.

DHM technical situation report, 26 Aug 2026. It warned that an upstream blockage had not been fully released or cleared at publication time; follow current official instructions for present risk. Read the DHM report mirror ↗

Corridor map

Open interactive corridor map ↗

Access & connectivity

Operational access update

Prithvi Highway: the approximately 20 m collapse at Krishnabhir remains blocked. Heavy vehicles are directed via Naubise–Palung–Bhimphedi–Bhaise and light vehicles/microbuses via Pharping. Dhunche: the previously reported alternative light-vehicle route is distinct from full corridor reopening. Primary Rasuwa corridor: Betrawati–Rasuwagadhi / Timure–Syabrubesi remains severely disrupted end-to-end.

Connectivity restoration

NDRRMA reported 145 of 198 affected telecom towers restored by 29 Aug 10:00. Nepal Telecom reported seven key BTS sites restored in Rasuwa and Nuwakot on 30 Aug. These are partial-restoration indicators, not confirmation of full coverage.

Infrastructure restoration

Department of Roads reporting attributes damage to approximately 40 km of road and 41 bridges destroyed or damaged. The broader requirement of about 42 Bailey bridges differs from the immediate initiative for 10 long Bailey bridges of about 70 m; delivery or installation is not confirmed.

Physical condition (state of the road/structures) is shown separately from passability (whether an authority has established the route is open or closed). “Road severely damaged” and “road officially closed” are different claims.

Location / corridor	Physical condition	Passability	Confidence	Source
Alternative route to Dhunche Kathmandu–Tokha–Chhahare–Gadkhar Bridge–Aapra–Narja–Lachyang–Sarmathali–Patikharka–Bogatitar–Kalikasthan–Dhunche	Temporary/alternative district-access route; risks remain on several sections	OPEN FOR LIGHT FOUR-WHEELED VEHICLES — travel with official caution	Confirmed	Department of Roads / Prime Minister via RSS and The Rising Nepal · ↗
Betrawati – Rasuwagadhi road (~42 km)	SEVERE FLOOD DAMAGE — around 40 km of road and multiple bridges affected in the wider Rasuwa network	SEVERELY DISRUPTED — NOT OPEN END-TO-END	Confirmed disruption	Department of Roads / Infrastructure Ministry; latest alternative access is only to Dhunche · ↗
Rasuwagadhi – Timure	Severe damage reported (part of the Betrawati–Rasuwagadhi road)	UNKNOWN — not authoritatively confirmed	Probable	Department of Roads / District Administration (via media) · ↗
Timure – Syabrubesi	Severe damage reported (part of the Betrawati–Rasuwagadhi road)	UNKNOWN — not authoritatively confirmed	Probable	Department of Roads / local officials (via media) · ↗
Syabrubesi – Betrawati	Severe damage reported (part of the Betrawati–Rasuwagadhi road)	UNKNOWN — not authoritatively confirmed	Probable	Department of Roads / local officials (via media) · ↗
Betrawati – Trishuli	Impacts reported in Betrawati/Trishuli market areas	UNKNOWN — not authoritatively confirmed	Probable	Local officials (via The Kathmandu Post) · ↗
Trishuli – Devighat	No verified report	UNKNOWN	Unverified	No verified source yet
Baireni–Mugling / Prithvi Highway	Approximately 20 m of road collapsed at Krishnabhir after Trishuli erosion	BLOCKED AT KRISHNABHIR Heavy: Naubise–Palung–Bhimphedi–Bhaise Light/microbus: Pharping	Confirmed	Kathmandu Post / traffic authorities · ↗

What we know & what remains under investigation

What we know

NDRRMA reports 903 bodies and human remains recovered (31 Aug 09:00 NPT); this is a recovered-remains metric, not a final confirmed death toll.
NDRRMA reports ~4,247 unaccounted for (incl. 592 foreign nationals) and 10,451 rescued at 31 Aug 09:00 NPT; 267 injured (156 discharged), 20,819 personnel and 411 helicopter flights; figures are provisional.
One barrier lake near the border was reported fully drained; DHM has active flood/rainfall warnings across seven downstream districts.
Approximately 933 workers are unaccounted for at 11 hydropower projects; the Rasuwagadhi (111 MW) tunnel was searched with no people found inside (~93 of its workers still missing).
Prithvi Highway remains blocked at Krishnabhir with separate diversions; the primary Rasuwa corridor remains severely disrupted.
Telecommunications restoration is partial: 145 of 198 affected towers by 29 Aug 10:00, and seven key Nepal Telecom BTS sites on 30 Aug.
NESRA EO v1 is unchanged; external mapping expanded through Copernicus and Sentinel Asia.

Under investigation

Missing lists: authority lists, timing and definitions remain subject to reconciliation; no sensitive names are reproduced.
Secondary hazard: the second crater lake and downstream flood, landslide and avalanche risks remain monitored.
Tunnel rescue: unconfirmed trapped-person estimates are omitted.
Connectivity: infrastructure restoration counts do not establish full service.
Infrastructure: 10-bridge and approximately 42-bridge initiatives differ; delivery remains unconfirmed.
Loss and damage: USD 4–5 billion is preliminary.
NESRA EO: v1 is cloud-limited exposure analysis; no final validated damage assessment is published.
YIL: underlying drone products await NESRA review.

Incident timeline

Newest reviewed developments first. Operational counts are provisional and authority-attributed.

NDRRMA_UPDATE 31 Aug 2026, 09:00 NPT
903 bodies/remains recovered; ~4,247 unaccounted; 10,451 rescued
NDRRMA update; 267 injured (156 discharged), 20,819 personnel, 411 helicopter flights (3,344 Nepalis + 252 foreign airlifted). Recovered remains, not a final death toll; provisional.
HYDROPOWER 31 Aug 2026
~933 workers unaccounted at 11 hydropower projects; Rasuwagadhi tunnel searched
Army-led search with Indian & Chinese specialists (controlled blasts, excavators, search lights). Rasuwagadhi (111 MW) tunnel searched to ~225 m — no people found inside; ~93 of its workers missing. Three bodies recovered from two tunnels.
OFFICIAL_RISK 30–31 Aug 2026
One barrier lake reported fully drained; glacier/landslide instability under assessment
Chinese technical statement (lake drained); DHM flood/rainfall warnings for Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun, Nawalparasi, Chitwan. Technical assessment is not an official warning.
POWER 31 Aug 2026
NEA reports partial power restoration across Rasuwa
Electricity restored across most of Kalika, Naukunda, Dhunche, Bharkhu and Gosainkunda; repairs continue. ~10% of national generation affected.
EARTH_OBSERVATION 31 Aug 2026
Situation Brief #07 published; NESRA EO v1 unchanged
Brief #07 data cutoff 31 Aug 12:00 NPT. NESRA Rapid EO Assessment v1 remains the latest NESRA EO product; external products (Charter 8, Copernicus EMSR927, Sentinel Asia) unchanged.
NEPAL_POLICE 30 Aug 2026, 15:00 NPT
788 bodies recovered
Separate provisional recovered-body metric, not a final confirmed death toll.
NDRRMA_UPDATE 30 Aug 2026, 13:00 NPT
2,502 unaccounted; 8,730 rescued
Latest reviewed NDRRMA figures; nearly 20,000 personnel reported mobilised.
OFFICIAL_RISK 30 Aug 2026
Renewed Bhotekoshi rise; precautions urged
NDRRMA warning for Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan; follow DHM live guidance.
SEARCH_RESCUE 30 Aug 2026, 19:54 NPT report
Specialist tunnel rescue active
Nepali, Indian and Chinese teams assisting; entrance reached, debris clearing under way, two people pulled from mouth.
CONNECTIVITY 29–30 Aug 2026
Partial telecom restoration
145/198 towers restored; seven key Nepal Telecom BTS sites restored. Full coverage not established.
EARTH_OBSERVATION 30 Aug 2026 review
External products expanded
Copernicus: 4 AOIs / 3 products. Sentinel Asia lists Planet-based mapping and Sentinel-1 damage proxy.
NDRRMA_UPDATE 30 Aug 2026, 09:00 NPT
734 bodies/human remains recovered; 2,498 unaccounted for; 8,186 rescued
NDRRMA operational update; over 15,000 security personnel and 15 helicopters mobilised. Reported as recovered remains, not a final death toll; provisional.
ACCESS 30 Aug 2026, morning
Prithvi Highway (Muglin–Kathmandu) severed at Krishnabhir
Trishuli river erosion undermined the road base at Krishnabhir (Benighat Rorang, Dhading); travellers advised to use alternative routes.
EARTH_OBSERVATION 30 Aug 2026
Charter products increased to 8; Copernicus EMSR927 products released
Copernicus EMS reported more than 240 buildings destroyed and 32 damaged within its mapped Syapru Besi area (WorldView-3, 27 Aug 2026). Copernicus findings, not NESRA metrics.
NDRRMA_UPDATE 29 Aug 2026, 10:00 NPT
626 deaths; 2,426 unaccounted for; 4,451 rescued; 15,224 personnel mobilised
Latest reviewed NDRRMA snapshot. The unaccounted-for total includes 517 foreign nationals as a subset.
NEPAL_POLICE 29 Aug 2026, 06:00 NPT
616 bodies recovered
Separate Nepal Police recovered-body metric; not identical to the later NDRRMA death total.
OFFICIAL_RISK 29 Aug 2026, morning
River levels below alert; barrier-lake monitoring continues
One lake appeared to be draining and its burst risk had eased; a second larger lake remained under assessment.
SEARCH_RESCUE 29 Aug 2026, morning
Rasuwa operations temporarily halted by rain and fog
Chief District Officer via Reuters; no later authoritative resumption identified in this review.
TECHNICAL_ASSISTANCE 29 Aug 2026
Specialised international technical assistance requested
Priority areas include tunnels, transport, communications, victim identification, DNA testing and body storage.
ACCESS 29 Aug 2026
Baireni–Mugling reopened; primary Rasuwa corridor remains severely damaged
Department of Roads reports approximately 40 km of road and 41 bridges destroyed or damaged across the affected network.
NDRRMA_UPDATE 28 Aug 2026, 19:00 NPT
579 bodies recovered; 1,924 out of contact; 4,451 rescued; 15,431 personnel mobilised
Latest reviewed NDRRMA operational snapshot; provisional.
ACCESS 28 Aug 2026, evening
Alternative light-vehicle route to Dhunche operational
The primary Betrawati–Rasuwagadhi corridor remains severely disrupted.
OFFICIAL_RISK 28 Aug 2026, evening review
Rescue resumed; two upstream barrier lakes remain under monitoring
Immediate overflow risk eased, but secondary-hazard risk persists.
RESTORATION 28 Aug 2026, evening
Formal initiatives for 10 Bailey bridges of 70 m
Requested/planned from India and China; not confirmed delivered or deployed.
HISTORICAL_SNAPSHOT 28 Aug 2026, 15:00 NPT
Earlier NDRRMA snapshot: 538 recovered, 977 out of contact, 3,742 rescued
Retained only as historical context; superseded by the 19:00 NDRRMA update.
SATELLITE 27–28 Aug 2026
NESRA Rapid EO Assessment v1 live; International Charter lists eight products
FIELD_ASSESSMENT 27 Aug 2026
YIL reports drone field acquisition completed
Underlying products await NESRA review.

Earth Observation status

RAPID EO ASSESSMENT · v1 · LIVE

NESRA Earth Observation — Satellite Mapping · पृथ्वी अवलोकन

Interactive satellite & geospatial analysis of the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli flood corridor · अन्तरक्रियात्मक उपग्रह विश्लेषण

NESRA’s Earth Observation dashboard combines available satellite imagery and open geospatial datasets to rapidly examine the Rasuwa–Bhotekoshi–Trishuli flood corridor. This v1 rapid assessment uses one Sentinel-2 acquisition (27 August 2026, much of the valley under cloud) with open building, road and infrastructure datasets, and is updated as additional satellite acquisitions become available.

NESRA को पृथ्वी अवलोकन ड्यासबोर्डले उपलब्ध उपग्रह तस्बिर र खुला भू-स्थानिक तथ्याङ्क प्रयोग गरी बाढी क्षेत्रको द्रुत विश्लेषण गर्दछ। यो v1 मूल्याङ्कन एउटै Sentinel-2 तस्बिर (२७ अगस्ट २०२६, धेरै भाग बादलले ढाकिएको) मा आधारित छ।

Satellite · उपग्रह: Sentinel-2Post-event · घटनापछि: 27 Aug 2026Pre-event · घटनाअघि: 12 Aug 2026Scope: Rasuwagadhi → DhadingbesiMethod: flood-path mapping + open-data intersection

Data limitation · बादलले ढाकिएको क्षेत्र. Parts of the valley are obscured by cloud in the available 27 August Sentinel-2 acquisition; about 4.1 km of river stays under solid cloud. Areas under cloud must NOT be interpreted as unaffected — “no evidence” is not “no flooding”. Treat the mapped extent as an upper bound. · बादलमुनिको क्षेत्रलाई प्रभावित नभएको भनी बुझ्नु हुँदैन।

Exposure, not verified damage · जोखिम, प्रमाणित क्षति होइन. These are geospatial-intersection results (assets touching the mapped flood/debris path), not confirmed structural damage. Verified damage requires field or official inspection. Status hierarchy: mapped flood/debris path → asset exposure → potential impact → field/officially verified damage.

NESRA EO RAPID ASSESSMENT — metrics (Sentinel-2, 27 Aug 2026; Rasuwagadhi → Dhadingbesi)

101.6 kmRiver assessed (92 km measured; 4.1 km under cloud)

3,216Buildings intersecting mapped flood/debris path · भवनहरू

11.5 kmMajor road intersecting mapped flood path · सडक

62Bridges intersecting flood path — condition not assessed · पुलहरू

Open Interactive EO Dashboard ↗ · ड्यासबोर्ड खोल्नुहोस्Methodology & satellite sources ↗

Show interactive EO map preview (loads on click; full-screen dashboard recommended)

Open full-screen dashboard ↗ · Trouble displaying imagery on some GPUs/browsers? The full-screen dashboard is more reliable.

Earth Observation analysis led by Michael Hylind, NESRA Earth Observation. Imagery: Copernicus Sentinel-2. Basemap: Esri, HERE, Garmin, OpenStreetMap contributors. EO imagery date: 27 Aug 2026 · Rapid EO Assessment v1 — this is the EO data timestamp, separate from the FloodWatch page update time.

NESRA EO products are rapid analytical products intended to support situational awareness. They do not replace official warnings, engineering inspections, field verification or government damage assessments. · NESRA का पृथ्वी अवलोकन उत्पादनहरू अवस्थाबारे छिटो जानकारी उपलब्ध गराउन तयार गरिएका विश्लेषणात्मक सामग्री हुन्। यिनले आधिकारिक चेतावनी, प्राविधिक निरीक्षण, स्थल प्रमाणीकरण वा सरकारी क्षति मूल्याङ्कनलाई प्रतिस्थापन गर्दैनन्।

External & complementary EO products

International Charter / Sentinel Asia

Charter activation 1052 lists 8 products. Sentinel Asia also lists IWM Planet-based value-added mapping and an EOS-RS Sentinel-1 damage-proxy product dated 28 Aug. External products are not NESRA findings.

8 Charter products · Sentinel Asia expanded

Copernicus EMSR927

Ongoing with 4 areas of interest and 3 products. Findings apply only within mapped AOIs and are not comparable with NESRA exposure metrics.

Ongoing · 4 AOIs · 3 products

PlanetScope

Nine post-event scenes at about 3.8 m GSD. Cloud cover is 62–93%.

Available, cloud-limited

SkySat

Two approximately 0.8 m focal collections from 27 August over Rasuwagadhi and Syabrubesi; about 50% cloud.

Focal imagery

Sentinel-1

Pre-event baseline from 24 August. A validated NESRA post-event radar product has not been published.

Monitoring / pending

NESRA EO output

NESRA Rapid EO Assessment v1 is live. It is a rapid, cloud-limited Sentinel-2 flood/debris-path and exposure assessment. No validated final NESRA flood extent or damage assessment has yet been published.

Rapid v1 live · validation ongoing

External emergency-mapping products do not automatically become NESRA findings. Planet pre-event surface reflectance and post-event top-of-atmosphere radiance are not safe for direct band differencing without appropriate correction.

Preliminary · source-attributed

YIL drone field assessment

Youth Innovation Lab reports drone acquisition completed across key parts of the Rasuwa corridor. Post-processing is underway. NESRA has not yet reviewed the underlying imagery, orthomosaics or final geospatial products.

Rasuwagadhi / Nepal–China border

Extensive damage reported around border, immigration and market areas.

Upper Timure

Severe settlement and infrastructure damage reported, particularly near the river corridor.

Lower Timure

Severe settlement and infrastructure impacts reported.

Syabrubesi

Severe impacts below the Nepal Army camp, with substantial debris deposition in some locations.

Betrawati

Riverbank-related damage reported.

Mailung

Damage reported along the exposed river corridor.

Indrawati

Riverbank-area impacts reported.

Trishuli Bazaar

Partial impacts reported along sections of both riverbanks.

Coverage context: YIL also reports operations toward Dhunche. No separate Dhunche damage finding is stated here. Highway physical condition is severe in multiple sections; passability is not authoritatively confirmed.

Expected products: georeferenced orthomosaics, settlement-level damage maps, infrastructure assessment, river/debris analysis and before/after comparison where suitable baselines exist. NESRA awaits the underlying data and final products.

Field priority needs

Re-establish communications with affected and isolated communities.
Establish temporary shelters at strategic locations.
Establish temporary health camps near affected communities.
Maintain distributed food and safe-drinking-water provision.
Improve inter-agency and field coordination through shared situational information.

Reported by YIL; not official government directives. Coordinate emergency response with NDRRMA and local authorities.

Rasuwa 2026 contributor

Youth Innovation Lab (YIL)

Drone Field Assessment Contributor — Rasuwa 2026

YIL’s findings remain a preliminary, source-attributed field assessment. NESRA has not reviewed the underlying imagery, orthomosaics or final geospatial products.

Official information & public safety

For warnings and emergency instructions, follow these authorities:

NDRRMA BIPAD Portal DHM Nepal Police

External mapping & response resources

International Charter

Activation 1052 ↗

Eight Charter products available, including Rasuwa and Nuwakot pre/post and mudflow/rockflow extent and a Timure–Syabrubesi impact map.

Sentinel Asia

Nepal flood activation ↗

DHM requester; IWM Planet-based mapping and EOS-RS Sentinel-1 damage proxy listed.

Planet Crisis Response

PlanetScope and SkySat catalog ↗

Direct imagery and STAC metadata.

Copernicus EMSR927

Rapid Mapping activation ↗

Ongoing; products may evolve.

Health response

WHO Nepal statement ↗

Emergency medical supplies and tents.

Independent bulletin

Rasuwa flood bulletin ↗

Verify operations with originating authorities.

External links improve access to information but do not imply endorsement of every claim or classification.

Situation briefs & response data

Situation Brief #07 is the latest immutable snapshot (data cutoff 31 Aug 12:00 NPT). Briefs #01–#06 remain unchanged historical archives.

Read Situation Brief #07 English PDF नेपाली संक्षेप #07 NDRRMA Rescue / Missing Registry ↗Brief #06 archive Brief #05 archive Brief #04 archive Brief #03 archive Brief #02 archive Brief #01 archive

The NDRRMA registry is linked for authoritative lookup; FloodWatch does not reproduce personal names.

Using FloodWatch operationally?

Government agencies, emergency responders, humanitarian organisations, researchers and infrastructure operators may contact NESRA regarding data interpretation, EO products, corrections or relevant information exchange. FloodWatch does not provide a 24/7 emergency-response service.

Request Data / GIS Report a Correction Share Operational Information Contact NESRA

Sources used for this incident

Programme partnership

A NESRA initiative
Nepalese Space Research Association owns, operates and publishes FloodWatch and remains its scientific and geospatial lead.

FloodWatch Programme Lead — Anamol Mittal
Founder & President, NESRA · programme leadership, coordination and publication oversight.

NESRA Earth Observation Lead — Michael Hylind
Earth Observation analysis and technical leadership.

Technology & Innovation Partner — Infinity Innovation Center (IIC)
IIC provides technology, digital infrastructure, innovation and implementation support to the wider NESRA FloodWatch initiative.

Programme partners and supporters do not influence NESRA’s source selection, scientific analysis, confidence classification or publication decisions.

Help sustain NESRA FloodWatch

Support NESRA’s public-interest Earth Observation processing, geospatial analysis, verification, mapping infrastructure and future disaster-response readiness. This is not a disaster-relief or victim-assistance appeal.

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Financial or in-kind support does not influence NESRA’s analysis, source selection, confidence classification, scientific review or publication decisions.

NESRA — Nepalese Space Research Association. FloodWatch provides Earth Observation and geospatial situational analysis. For official warnings, route decisions and emergency instructions, follow NDRRMA, DHM and relevant government authorities. Impact figures are provisional and attributed to their originating sources. Reference map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Verified ground updates

Current, non-graphic ground imagery from the affected corridor. Each photograph remains hosted by the publisher and links to the original visual report, with its source credit retained.

Aerial view of flood damage affecting settlements and infrastructure along the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli corridor — Flood damage affecting settlements and infrastructure along the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli corridor.Nepal Photo Library, via The Kathmandu Post

Security personnel inspect a flood-affected area during response operations.RSS, via The Kathmandu Post

Ground view of the affected river valley after the flood surge.Handout photo, via The Kathmandu Post

Published 26 August 2026. Click any image to open the original visual story. Image captions describe only what is visible or reported by the credited publisher.

Latest official NDRRMA posts

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